Safety Violations in the Cincinnati Workplace

Your employer has safety obligations in Ohio

You have the right to a safe workplace. Your employer is responsible for providing a workplace that adheres to all safety rules required by federal and state law. Employers must take all reasonably necessary steps to protect the life, health, safety and welfare of their workers. At Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen, L.P.A., Co., we are ready to help if unsafe conditions at work cause you to be injured. We recognize that injuries and accidents you suffer at work can be just as debilitating as injuries suffered elsewhere.

That said, you need to do your part to maintain a safe workplace as well. You should properly use safety equipment that is provided to you. You should also not remove, displace, damage, destroy, or carry off any safety device or safeguard furnished or provided to you there.

Is your employer in violation of a specific safety requirement (VSSR)?

scaffolding at construction site

Ohio law allows you to receive an additional award of compensation, beyond workers compensation benefits, if you are injured due to your employer’s violation of a specific safety requirement (VSSR). Our legal team can help you determine if your workplace injury is due to a VSSR and assist you in filing to receive additional compensation from the Ohio Industrial Commission.

What are the most common workplace safety hazards?

Common safety hazards in the workplace include slips and fall accidents, violence, failure to warn about hazardous material, fire and others. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspects workplaces nationwide and cites businesses in violation of federal safety standards. The most frequently cited OSHA standards violated in 2012 were:

  • Fall protection, construction – open trenches are common in construction, as are tasks handled on scaffolding or atop tall machinery.
  • Hazard communication standard, general industry – lack of appropriate signage can cause workers to misunderstand or be unaware of significant dangers on the job site.
  • Scaffolding, general requirements, construction – inadequate scaffolding, or structures which are not properly connected or attached, can cause not just falls, but other injuries if the scaffolding collapses.
  • Respiratory protection, general industry – using the wrong types of masks can injure workers. Just because you are wearing a mask does not mean you are immune to gas fumes or particulates in the air.
  • Control of hazardous energy (lockout, tagout), general industry – injuries related to shock and other responses to hazardous energy can be fatal.
  • Powered industrial trucks, general industry – improper training on the use of these trucks can lead to injuries as well. Only properly certified and licensed drivers of heavy machinery can use these vehicles.
  • Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry – electrocution is all too common on job sites, and these incidents are often predicated by a lack of clear communication.
  • Ladders, construction – malfunctions with ladders, or unsafe use of ladders, can lead to a variety of serious incidents.
  • Electrical systems design, general requirements, general industry – given the complexity and dangers inherent in the layout of wiring, electrical systems must be implemented with extreme caution, and with precise labeling.
  • Machines, general requirements, general industry – if machines are not properly maintained, or if training programs are incomplete or improperly implemented, injuries from machines are all too common.

If you are injured in the workplace because of a safety violation by your employer, you are entitled to workers compensation and may in certain circumstances be able to obtain an additional award due to that violation. The world of workers compensation involves many parties, including the injured employee, employer, insurance carrier and professional medical individuals. The paper trail in a work-related injury can seem daunting at times. Because of this, Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen, L.P.A., Co. provides competent and caring legal representation for workplace accidents in these situations.

Contact one of our experienced and caring workers compensation attorneys in Cincinnati, OH

You can place your trust and your claim in the hands of our competent and dedicated workers compensation attorneys at Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen, L.P.A., Co. We handle your claim, so you can spend your energy recovering. For a confidential and free initial consultation to discuss the details of your case, contact us in Cincinnati at 513.721.6500 or use our online contact form.